Prishtinë, Pejë, 10 korrik 2026
Kryeministri në detyrë i Republikës së Kosovës, Albin Kurti, mbajti ligjëratë virtuale në ditën përmbyllëse të edicionit të pestë të UNISUM 2026 – Universitetit Ndërkombëtar Veror, i organizuar nga Universiteti “Haxhi Zeka”, në Pejë.
Pasi u kërkoi ndjesë për pamundësinë për të qenë i pranishëm fizikisht, kryeministri Kurti u uroi mirëseardhje në Kosovë studentëve dhe profesorëve ndërkombëtarë, duke shtuar se pjesëmarrja e lartë e tyre në UNISUM 2026 është dëshmi se institucionet e arsimit të lartë po bëhen qendra të rëndësishme për shkëmbime shkencore dhe kulturore.
“Qeveria jonë po investon ashtu që dija dhe kërkimet të kalojnë kufijtë gjeografik. Shteti ynë demokratik, me potencial të jashtëzakonshëm njerëzor dhe rini aktive, po vazhdon të ngritet në rankime të ndryshme ndërkombëtare. Në të njëjtën kohë, ne po punojmë bashkë me institucionet tona që të zgjerojmë edhe më shumë mundësitë për mobilitet akademik, kërkime shkencore dhe pjesëmarrje në programe ndërkombëtare”, tha kryeministri.
Kryeministri theksoi se në mandatin e kaluar qeverisës u rikthye fokusi te studentët dhe mbështetja për ta, me masa dhe veprime të menjëhershme që promovojnë barazinë, përmirësojnë cilësinë dhe hapin institucionet e arsimit të lartë për të gjithë studentët.
“Një nga vendimet e para të Qeverisë ishte që ta bëjmë arsimin e lartë publik falas. Në vendin tonë, arsimimi është e drejtë e garantuar, andaj ishte përgjegjësia jonë që të largojmë barrën financiare. Si rezultat, më shumë se 173,000 studentë të nivelit bachlor dhe master janë përjashtuar nga tarifat”, tha ai.
Kryeministri foli edhe për mbështetjen direkte të studentëve të shkëlqyer, duke thënë se janë afër 10 mijë studentë janë shpërblyer me bursa të meritës.
Në edicionin e sivjetmë të UNISUM, i mbajtur nga 29 qershori deri më 10 korrik, morën pjesë më shumë se 100 studentë ndërkombëtarë dhe rreth 30 studentë vendorë. Ndërkaq, u angazhuan gjithsej 31 profesorë, 16 vendorë dhe 15 të tjerë ndërkombëtarë, nga shtete si Shqipëria, Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës, Kroacia, Turqia, Gjermania, Finlanda, Hungaria, Polonia, Moldavia dhe Mali i Zi.
Programi akademik i Universitetit Ndërkombëtar Veror ishte i përqendruar në një mori temash aktuale, si Transformimi digjital; Inteligjenca Artificiale; Teknologjia e Informacionit; Biznesi dhe ekonomia; Menaxhimi i burimeve njerëzore; Agrobiznesi; Shkencat juridike; Menaxhimi i hotelerisë dhe turizmit; Mbrojtja e mjedisit; Arti muzikor; dhe, fusha të tjera ndërdisiplinore.
Fjala e plotë e kryeministrit Kurti në gjuhën angleze:
Honorable Rector, Professor Armand Krasniqi,
Honorable Mr. Hajrulla Çeku, Minister of Education and Science,
Dear Vice-Rectors Members of the Governing Council, Management, Professors and Local and International Students of UNISUM2026,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Nearly a month ago, I was there at your university for an event that made us all proud—the graduation ceremony of more than 200 students, young professionals of this generation. I am delighted to be with you again today as part of the UNISUM International Summer University.
The presence of international students and professors demonstrates that our higher education institutions are becoming important centers for cultural and scientific exchange. I extend a warm welcome to all international professors and students visiting Kosova. I hope you will take home wonderful experiences and lasting memories to share with one another, while also building future professional, academic, and intercultural partnerships.
Our Government is investing so that knowledge and research transcend geographical borders. Our democratic state, with its tremendous human potential and active youth, continues to rise in various international rankings. At the same time, we are working together with our institutions to further expand opportunities for academic mobility, scientific research, and participation in international programs.
During our previous governing mandate, we restored the focus on supporting students. Our measures and actions were immediate, aiming to promote equality, improve quality, and open higher education institutions to all students.
One of the Government’s first decisions was to make public higher education tuition-free. Education in our country is a guaranteed right, and it was therefore our responsibility to remove this financial burden. As a result, more than 173,000 students at the bachelor’s and master’s levels have been exempted from tuition fees.
We have also provided direct financial support through a significant expansion of scholarship schemes at various levels, benefiting more than 18,000 students. For the first time, we introduced the STEM scholarship scheme, through which 7,000 girls each received a €1,000 scholarship. This initiative has brought about a remarkable transformation in terms of gender equality in the exact sciences.
Support has also been directed toward outstanding students, with nearly 10,000 merit scholarships awarded, as well as assistance for students with special needs.
Naturally, improving quality has also required a strong emphasis on internationalization, research, and academic integrity. The Government has provided direct support to students admitted to the world’s top 500 universities outside Kosova.
We have awarded 240 doctoral scholarships and 165 scholarships for studies abroad, covering up to 100% of educational expenses. In addition, 672 students have received support for studies completed in countries such as the United States, France, Japan, Hungary, and others.
For the first time, last year we also launched a postdoctoral support scheme. In its first call, eight researchers benefited, six of whom were women.
Furthermore, through Horizon Europe—a highly valuable program for research and innovation—15 projects worth more than €1.5 million have been funded. We are determined to further increase the number of such projects and programs during our upcoming mandate.
Distinguished guests,
Higher education is the natural continuation of primary and secondary schooling and the place where the knowledge that guides a nation is created. The internationalization of our universities is the fastest path toward our integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.
Our education system is the main pillar for preserving our identity and building our future. Even during the most challenging periods in our country’s history, universities and students have led the way for the generations that followed. University education became the strongest instrument of scientific and social awareness, shaping intellectuals distinguished by academic excellence and a deep commitment to public service.
The strong desire of our young people to pursue university studies remains one of Kosova’s greatest human assets and potentials. Discussions on the quality of higher education serve as a powerful incentive for positive reforms, higher academic standards, and greater internationalization.
A new vision for higher education in Kosova is being built upon a strong connection with the economy, sustainable development, and innovation.
To improve efficiency and competitiveness, during our next mandate we will begin the process of profiling public higher education institutions. This will involve clearly defining their core academic profiles and strategically transitioning toward performance-based funding. Public universities will be financed according to their demonstrated performance and increased scientific activity.
By restructuring the national science fund and strengthening university institutes, university professors will be given excellent opportunities to earn additional income beyond their base salaries. This financial support will result from measurable research with societal impact, the provision of professional services to state and public institutions, and the development of joint international cooperation projects.
University synergy must be closely connected with the labor market. We will work to ensure that new study programs guarantee degrees that translate into employment opportunities and successful careers. In this way, higher education will become the driving force of progress, making Kosova more competitive, more developed, and fully integrated into the European Higher Education Area.
Distinguished guests, professors, and students,
Education and the economy undoubtedly advance the development of a modern society together. A dynamic economy positively shapes and drives the education system, while a high-quality education system provides the economy with its most valuable engine: human capital.
Today, the decision to pursue higher education must increasingly be aligned with real employment opportunities. Our approach goes beyond purely socio-cultural dimensions, returning to strong scientific, applied, and artistic foundations. This process begins with childhood curiosity and the early identification of talents, whether in the exact sciences or in the arts.
Therefore, during our next mandate, one of our priorities will be to transition our schools toward full-day education from the earliest stages of schooling. The early identification of talent, the cultivation of scientific curiosity and passion, and its connection with the country’s strategic priorities form the basis upon which the reorganization of higher education will be built.
For this reason, Kosova has strategically invested in promoting STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The country’s economic development is increasingly driven by production and technological innovation, while higher education will be oriented toward producing engineers, scientists, and researchers. They will become key components of emerging industries.
This marks a transition from a model in which the public sector was considered the primary employer toward a more open, productive, and development-oriented private economy.
This new vision for higher education and its close connection with the productive economy also finds expression in international summer programs such as this one. Events like today’s create opportunities for the exchange of ideas, experiences, cultures, and global innovation.
The internationalization of higher education is both an academic objective and a strategic necessity. It equips our students with global competencies while ensuring they remain firmly rooted in the development of our country. A performance-based system, scientific research, and cooperation with industry are precisely the direction in which we are working with full commitment.
Thank you for your attention. I am now happy to take your questions and hear your comments.
